Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October 1875-15 December 1950) was Deputy Prime Minister of India from 15 August 1947 to 15 December 1950, preceding Morarji Desai. Patel was a major leader of the Indian National Congress party, and he was the de facto commander-in-chief of the armed forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

Biography
Vallabhbhai Patel was born in Nadiad, Gujarat, British Raj on 31 October 1875, and he went to England and was admitted to the bar in 1913, becoming a successful criminal lawyer. He was profoundly influenced by the Indian MP Dadabhai Naoroji while he was abroad. Upon his return to India, he became a successful lawyer in Allahabad, and he became active in local politics in 1917. In that year, he became a loyal follower of Mahatma Gandhi, supporting him in all his major campaigns. Although less well known than Jawaharlal Nehru, he gained a firm hold of the organization of the Indian Nationa Congress. In the end, however, the moderate and conciliatory Patel was reduced to serving as Nehru's deputy, as Nehru had won Gandhi's favor. Nevertheless, as Home Minister from 1946 he was responsible for some of the most successful achievements of Nehru's administration, transforming the INC from a popular movement into an organized political party and creating a viable administrative and governmental structure for an independent India, most notably the transformation of the 562 princely states into 26 administrative units. He also organized relief efforts for refugees fleeing from Punjab and Delhi, and he was the de facto Supreme Commander-in-chief of the armed forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. Patel died in office as Deputy Prime Minister in 1950.